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VIDEO AND SOUND PRODUCTION : EXERCISES

23/04/2025 - 07/05/2025 (Week 1 - Week 3)

Madeline Ordelia Tjahjadi (0376920)

Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

Video and Sound Production

Exercises

Table of Content


Lectures

Week 1  : Types of Camera Shots & Angles

We need to learn the basics of cinematography, including shot size, camera angle, and composition, in order to practice shooting. That basics are all elements of visual storytelling used in film, television, and other visual media.

Shot size
Shot size means the amount of space that is visible in a shot or frame. By using different shot sizes, there are many emotions and styles which can be expressed. A wide shot is used to show a setting or context, while a close-up is usually for focusing on emotions.

Fig 1.1: Shot size cheatsheet.

Types of shot size:
  • Extreme Wide Shot : make your subject appear small than their surroundings. To make your subject feel distant, you can use this shot. 
  • Long Shot or Wide Shot : it's quite similar to EWS, but a bit closer. If the subject is a person, their whole body will be in view but not filling the shot. So, there should be a good deal of space above and below your subject.
  • Full Shot : technique that captures the subject's full body from head to toe in a single footage. 
  • Medium Wide Shot : frames the subject from roughly the knees up. 
  • Cowboy Shot : frames the subject from roughly mid-thighs up. 
  • Medium Shot : it's similar to cowboy shot above, but frames from roughly the waist up and through the torso. So it emphasize the subject more but still keeping the surroundings visible. 
  • Medium Close Up shot : frames the subject from roughly the chest up, so it focus on the face but still keeps the subject somewhat distant. 
  • Close Up : if you want to reveal the subject emotions and reaction, you can use close up shot. It fills the frames with your subject.
  • Extreme Close Up : the most you can fill a frame with your subject. It often shows eyes, mouths, and gun triggers. In ECU, smaller objects get great detail and are the focal point.
Fig 1.2: The example of each shot.

Framing
Camera shot framing is the art of placing subjects in the shot, so it is all about composition.

Types of framing: 
  • Single shot : captures one subject
  • Two shot : camera shot with two characters featured in the frame.
  • Three shot : features three character in one frame.
  • Over-The-Shoulder shot : shows the subject from behind the shoulder of another character, it's common in conversation scene to show perspective.
  • Over-The-Hip shot : similar to OTS shot, but the camera placed with a character's hip in the fore ground, and the subject in the plane of acceptable focus.
  • Point Of View shot : camera shots that shows the viewer exactly what the character sees, it transports the audience into the character.
Fig 1.3: The example of each framing.

Camera Angle
Camera angle means the position of the camera when it is filming the subject. By using different angles, there are many perspectives which can be showed in the final shot. 

Types of Camera Angle: 
  • Eye level shot : subject is at eye-level, this mimics how we see people in real life.
  • Low angle shot : subject from a low camera height looking up to them, make the audience feel more dominant.
  • High angle shot : camera points down at subject, creates a feeling of interiority.
  • Hip level shot : camera is roughly waist-high.
  • Knee level shot : camera height is as low as the subject's knees, it emphasize the character's superiority 
  • Ground level shot : camera height is on the ground level. 
  • Shoulder level shot : camera is roughly ash high as the subject's shoulder.
  • Dutch angle : the camera is slanted to one side, with horizon lines tilted, you can create a sense of disorientation.
  • Bird's eye view or Overhead angle : from way up high, looking down on subject and a good amount of scenery surrounding the subject. It creates a sense of scale and movement. 
  • Aerial shot : taken from a helicopter or drone, it shots from way up high. 
Fig 1.4: The example of each angle.

Composition
Composition means the arrangement of visual elements in a shot or frame. This technique can be used to create visuals to guide audiences' eyes into understanding the meanings or emotions hidden.

Elements of composition : 
  • The rule of thirds 
Fig 1.5: Example of Rule of Thirds in "Rear Window (1954)".
  • Balance and Symmetry 
Fig 1.6: Example of Symmetry in "Full Metal Jacket".
  • Leading lines 
An actual lines (or imaginary) in a shot that lead the eye to key elements in the scene. 

Fig 1.7: Example of Leading Lines in "Nightcrawler".
  • Eye level framing 
Positions the audience at eye-level with the characters, which plant the idea that we are equal with the character. 
  • Depth of Field 
describes the size of the area in your image where objects appear acceptably sharp. 
  • Deep Space 
It is used when significance elements in a scene are positioned both near and far from the camera. The elements don't have to be in focus. 

Fig 1.8: Example of Deep space in "Nightcrawlers".

Week 1 Quiz



Week 2 : Understand storytelling

The three-act story structure is a popular narrative framework used in storytelling, it divided into three part – Act one, Act two, and Act three or we can call it the beginning, middle and the end. 

Fig 1.9: Three act structure.

Act One (Setup) 
It contain the introduction of the characters, their story world and some "inciting incident", basically a moment that kickstart the story. 

Act Two (Confrontation or build)
The middle of the story, so we have to raise the stakes to keep audience interest. The conflict usually start rising here and better to have an up and down direction. It typically ends with a major turning point. 

Act Three (Resolution or payoff)
This is where the story reach its climax and should bring resolution (regardless a happy or sad ending). 

Overall, the three-act story structure provides a clear and effective framework for storytelling, allowing writers to create engaging and well-structured narratives that resonate with audiences.


3 Act Structure Breakdown
  • The Hook : the opening and the main goal is to captivate the audiences.
  • The Inciting Event : where the protagonist has a problem they need to solve. 
  • First Plot Point : the point of no return.
  • The First Pinch Point : the first obstacles, where the antagonist typically involves.
  • The Midpoint : plot redirections.
  • Second Pinch Point : a setback for protagonist, to setting up the third act.
  • Third Plot Point : point us into the highest stake of the story.
  • Climax : the final battle
  • Resolution : story comes to an end, where we see how the journey affects the protagonist.

Week 2 Quiz

For a better understanding of 3-act structure, we were given some question to analyze and observing "Lalin" and "Everything, everywhere, all at once" movies. 

Lalin
1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only.
Act One : The story begins with the introduction of Lalin, a net idol in Japan who appears to have perfect beauty and considered as a Thailand pride. However, she is actually faking her online persona because of her insecurities. In the past, she was a victim of cyberbullying, which led her to move and study in Japan to create a new branding for herself. Over time, however, some of her followers began to give her a hate comment. 

Act Two : She met a guy online named Nut and began to fall in love with him. Over time, she became happier because they grew closer. Until one day, he came to Japan to meet her in real life. She wasn't ready to reveal the truth and ended up tell the guy to leave. 

Act Three : After he left, she discovered the truth about him – they had already met in the past, back when both of them were struggling with their own insecurities. Even though in the end they didn't met, she learned to face the real world. She took off her mask and accepted the truth about herself. 

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?
When she met Nut through online, he asked her to translate his book – but it was actually just a way for him to meet her again. 

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?
When the guy came to Japan to meet her, but she wasn't ready to tell him the truth about herself. 

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?
When Lalin discovered the truth about him – that they had actually met before. She then began to accepted the truth about herself. 

5. What is the theme of the movie?
The theme of this movie is self-acceptance, focusing on Lalin and her insecurities, and how she gradually learns to accept and embrace herself. The movie shows us how easily social media can influence us and how it can destroy a person's confidence.


Everything, Everywhere, All at once

1. Which part is act 1, act 2, act 3 respectively? Describe each act with ONE paragraph only. 
Act One : The story begins with Evelyn (the protagonist), a laundromat owner who is struggling financially and has been called in for an IRS audit, all while facing conflicts within her family. Her husband has filed for divorce, her father sees her as a disappointment, and she is struggling to accept her daughter's sexuality. One day her husband has been possessed by someone who claims to be from another universe and ask her to help him save the world. 

Act Two : Evelyn begins to experience the multiverse and encounters Jobu Tupaki, the antagonist – who is actually her daughter in alternate universe that creates a threat to the world. With all of the universe she travels to, she began to wonder about what her family's life would be like without her by their side, and  she begins to lose focus on everything. 

Act Three : The ending comes with the reconciliation of her and her daughter in alternate universe with love and kindness. As she returns, she begin to repair her relationship with her daughter and learn to present in the moment, enjoying all the high and lows that life offers. 

2. What is the inciting incident in the movie?
When her husband got possessed by someone from the alternate universe and tell her to stop the chaos and save the world. 

3. What is the midpoint scene in the movie?
When Evelyn experiences the multiverse and realizes the chaos she has to solve and discovered that the one who is responsible for that is her daughter from another universe. 

4. What is the Climax scene in the movie?
When Evelyn confront the antagonist, and instead of fighting, she expresses her feelings and approach her with empathy and connection. 

5. What is the theme of the movie?
The theme of this movie is self acceptance and the search of meaning in the chaos. She has to learn to accept herself in all different alternate universe while learning to fix her problem despite all the things that happened. This movie reminds us to keep our focus on what's really important in life and enjoy everything in the moment. 


Week 3 : Storyboard

Storyboard is a visual representation of a film sequence, animation, or video game and breaks down the action into individual panels. It is a series of ordered drawings, with camera direction, dialogue, or other details for the propose of pre-visualizing how the video will unfold, shot by shot. 

Storyboarding is a crucial part of the pre-production process because it allows filmmakers to experiment with different visual approaches, identify potential problems, and make necessary adjustments before the actual filming begins, saving time and resources.

Storyboard Format and Layout

Traditional storyboards : Basic pencil sketches that include detailed information like arrows for camera movement, characters, props, etc.

Thumbnail style storyboards : don't have any writing

Fig 1.10: Example of thumbnail storyboard.

Week 3 quiz



Week 4 : Production

Production stages
The production stages in filmmaking usually broken down into three main phases: pre-production, production, and post-production. But many films scholars divide the film creation process into a broader 3 stages of production – Production, Distribution, and Exhibition.

1. Development
Development is the spark, producer or screenwriter has the idea and begin to make that idea into a movie. 

Two primary phases in this stage:
  • The package : collection of the creative elements that will be part of a project, including screenplay, intellectual property, director, or some actors. 
  • Financing : studios can get money from pre-sales, which refers to selling a film before it's made to local distributors. They can also rely on slate financing, or getting money from investors. Take out loans through things like negative pickups, gap financing, and bridge financing. 
2. Pre-production
This is the planning stage of filmmaking, where all the necessary preparations are made before filming begins. 

Three major things in this stage:
  • Budgeting
  • Getting the team together : hiring crew members
  • Pre-visualizing : writing the script, creating storyboards, casting actors, scouting locations, designing sets and costumes
3. Production 
This is the stage where the actual filming takes place. The production team will work together to capture all the footage needed for the film, using the plans and preparations made during pre-production as a guide.

Moving elements: 
Fig 1.11: Example of Call sheet.
  • The call sheet : it tells each member of each department what their call time is and what they should be planning to do for the day.
  • The set up
  • Shooting
4. Post-Production
This is the stage where the footage is edited and assembled into a final product. Includes tasks such as cutting and arranging scenes, adding music and sound effects, colour grading, and visual effects.

    5. Distribution
    • Marketing
    • Securing distribution
    Production stage quiz :



    Production Crew
    A team of professionals who work together to create a film or video. Each member of the crew has a specific role and set of responsibilities, which are essential to the overall success of the production. Here are some of the key production crew members and their tasks:

    1. Director
    responsible for overseeing the entire production and ensuring that the creative vision for the project is realised. They work closely with the cast and crew to block out scenes, direct the actors' performances, and make creative decisions about the look and feel of the film.

    2. Producer
    responsible for the logistical and financial aspects of the production. They secure funding, hire the crew, coordinate the schedule and locations, and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

    3. Cinematographer
    director of photography (DP), is responsible for the visual aesthetic of the film. They work closely with the director to choose the right camera, lenses, and lighting to achieve the desired look and mood for each scene.

    4. Production Designer
    responsible for the overall visual design of the film, including the sets, costumes, and props. They work closely with the director and cinematographer to create a cohesive and immersive visual world for the story.

    5. Sound Designer
    responsible for the audio aspects of the film, including recording and editing dialogue, sound effects, and music. They work closely with the director and editor to ensure that the sound and picture are seamlessly integrated.

    6. Editor
    responsible for assembling the footage into a coherent and compelling story. They work closely with the director and sound designer to shape the pacing, tone, and structure of the film.

    Production Crew quiz :


    Week 5 : Mise en scène

    Mise en scène is a French term that translates literally to "placing on stage" or "setting the stage". It refers to the overall visual arrangement and presentation of a scene. In film analysis, it refers to everything in front of the camera, including the set design, lighting, and actors. 

    Key Components of Mise en Scène

    1. Setting and Location
    Location says a lot about characters, intentions, obstacles, and themes. 
    • Physical Space: The environment where the action takes place, whether it's a realistic setting like a living room or an abstract, symbolic space.
    • Time Period: The era in which the story is set, influencing costumes, props, and set design.
    2. Props
    Props have power. They're vital elements of film. Items used by characters can symbolize themes, indicate character traits, or advance the plot.

    3. Lighting
    The use of light and shadow to create mood, highlight specific elements, and guide the audience’s focus. For example, high-contrast lighting can create a dramatic or tense atmosphere.

    4. Costume and Makeup
    Hair and makeup can make characters become familiar. It reflect a character's personality, social status, occupation or psychological state. 

    5. Actor blocking
    Where an actor is arranged, and if, when, and how an actor moves in the scene, all highlight the reason for the scene itself. Blocking organizes the action, the business of the moment. It flavors what’s going on, both on the surface and underneath.

    6. Shot composition
    How elements are arranged within the frame or on stage, including camera angles in film or the positioning of actors in theater. This affects how the audience perceives relationships and power dynamics.

    Week 5 quiz: 

     

    Week 6 : Colour Theory, Colour Correction V.S. Colour Grading

    Colour Theory
    There are two meanings–a scientific principle that explains how color hues and saturations are created and a creative discipline that examines how color is used to achieve emotional effect in visual art

    Types of Colour theory

    1. Color Wheel 
    Back to the early 18th-century with Isaac Newton natural philosophical text Opticks. Newton used a circle to propose a range of perceivable color. 

    Fig 1.12: Order of Colors in Sir Isaac Newton Opticks (1704).

    Newton argued that colors were divided into two categories: Original and Compounded. 
    • Original colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, perhaps better known by the acronym ROYGBIV. 
    • Compounded colors are colors that are created by compounding original colors. For example: blue and green compounded in equal measure make teal.
    Color theorists developed tools for artists to use. Specifically, these are known as color schemes or pattens of color. Among these schemes are monochrome, analogous, complementary, triadic, and tetradic.
    • Monochrome utilizes varying tones of just one color (usually gray).
    • Analogous utilizes colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
    • Complementary utilizes colors that are opposite to one another on a color wheel.
    • Triadic color utilizes colors that connect together on a color wheel to form an equilateral triangle.
    • Tetradic color utilizes colors that connect together on a color wheel to form a rectangle.
    Fig 1.13: Color wheel example.

    2. Color Context
    How a color's appearance and perceived meaning are influenced by its surrounding colors and the overall visual situation. 

    3. Color Harmony
    Choosing colors that work well together, creating visually pleasing and balanced designs.

    Color correction vs Color grading

    1. Color correcting 
    the process of correcting (or fixing) colors in a video or a film as a way to get them back to what they should look like for your project. 

    How to color correct in 5 steps
    1. Normalize your footage as much as possible.
    2. Fix your saturation first.
    3. Then fix your brightness and contrast.
    4. Set your new white balance.
    5. Double check your skin tones.

    Another element that should be consider in color correcting is the relationship between the color saturation and color brightness in the video.

    2. Color grading 
    the process of grading (or editing) colors in a video or film as a way to give them a stylistic look. 

    Many of cool grades and effect in video achieved by using LUTs. What are LUT's in color grading?

    LUT stands for “look-up table,” and is basically a quick cheat-sheet which filmmakers can use in camera, or more importantly, which editors can use in their edit to give their footage specific grade and look.

    How to color grade in 5 steps  
    1. Normalize your folate as much as possible.
    2. Follow the steps to correct your colors.
    3. Choose your desired look and style.
    4. Make your color adjustments in your editing program of choice.
    5. Double check skin tones and vectorscope.

    Tools for color grading and correction
    • Adobe Premiere Pro
    • Final Cut Pro
    • Blackmagoc DaVinci Resolve
    • Magic Bullet Colorista
    • Fylm.ai
    Week 6 Quiz 
     

    Instruction

    Document 1.1: Module Information Booklet for Video and Sound Production.

    Exercises

    Exercise 1a: Editing

    This week, Mr. Martin assigned us an exercise using Premiere Pro. He gave us a brief explanation of how to use it. After learning the basic elements used, we were told to practice using the given footage. 

    Fig 3.1.1: The given footage.

    First we downloaded the given footage in drive, and then open Premiere Pro. To get an easy workspace to work with, Mr.Martin told us to click on Window>Workspace>Assembly. 

    After that, we export the video and select the first footage and drag it to the Timeline to create a sequence. 

    Fig 3.1.2: Footage exported and dragged into the timeline.

    To add another video, Mr.Martin told us, instead of dragging the video to the timeline, we can click the insert button.

    Fig 3.1.3: The insert button.

    After inserting all the video, we then click file>export>media to export the video. Save it in the same file as the footage given. 

    Fig 3.1.4: The export page.

    Final Outcome : 

    Exercise 1b: Editing

    For the next exercise, we need to arranged the right order of the video and repeat the same step like exercise 1. 

    To make the work easier, I rename each video in the correct order and then insert it into timeline.

    Fig 3.1.5: Rename the video.

    After I arranged it correctly, I repeat the same step to export the video but save it into a different files with exercise 1. 

    Fig 3.1.6: The export page.

    Final Outcome : 

    Exercise 2a: Shooting practice

    We were given a task to shoot different shots, to understand the shots better. We have to shoot 8 different shots with duration of 5 seconds and compile it together with caption added. 

    Fig 3.2.1: Editing Process.

    I exported the video to Premiere Pro and adding the caption with Type tool. After I finish the caption I add an intro in the beginning and some music. I use "Obituary by Alexandre Desplat"

    Final Outcome

    (Music source : https://youtu.be/azB-_MlmhfI?si=A3t1Jjx00lSIcUP1).

    Exercise 2b: Shooting Practice

    For this task, we shoot another 5 shot but different from last time. After that, we compile it and add the caption just like previous exercise.

    Fig 3.2.2: Editing Process.

    I repeat the same step like the previous task and added music from Jalen Ngonda, If you dont' want my love.

    (Music Source : https://youtu.be/B6AHb9W_LkM?si=xt-EpGaUdG4FpzJD)

    Exercise 3a: Storyboard

    We were given a task to create a storyboard based on the story that already been provided. We draw the storyboard with all the given shots and breakdown for each scene. 

    Fig 3.3.1: Storyboard #1.

    Fig 3.3.2: Storyboard #2.

    For scene 3 shot 6, I add O.S shot to show the person open the fridge and it's empty. 

    Exercise 3b: Production shoot

    We need to shoot a shot from a given footage using camera. It helps us understand how camera works to prepare us for Project 2 shooting.  We learn how each production crew works and create a team to make the shooting went on smoothly. Below some of the documentation from last week practice.

    Fig 3.3.3: Shooting documentation.

    Fig 3.3.4: Shooting documentation.

    Exercise 4: Visual effect 

    We learned how to create a visual effect using After Effects. We want to create an effect that looks like someone is being flicked.

    Fig 3.4.1: Visual effect progress #1.

    First, export all the footage into After Effects. Then, trim the video to the necessary duration. After that, drag the video into a new composition. Then cut the video (command + shift + D), and drag the last cut to the front to create a loop effect. Once that's done, we will edit the hand flick and remove the background using Keylight. Adjust the position of the hand using transform to fit better. 

    Fig 3.4.2: Visual effect progress #2.

    To create the flicked effect, start by inserting the footage of the empty background between the two cut sections of the main footage. Then, import the jumping footage and place it above the background layer. Use the Rotobrush tool to isolate the subject. Once that's done, align the subject with the original footage to ensure a seamless transition. To make the effect smoother, enable motion blur and apply 'Easy Ease' to all keyframes for a more natural movement.

    Fig 3.4.3: Visual effect progress #3.

    Lastly, to adjust the color of the video, I use adjustment layer and use lumetri color.

    Final Outcome

    Feedback

    Given a brief explanation for this module, learn how to use Premiere Pro. Mr. Martin teach us some shorcut on keyboard to make things easier when we editing. 

    Reflection

    Through this exercises, I learn the basic of Premiere Pro. This is my first time using it and it was a fun experience.We also get to know different types of shot by practice shooting. Even though, there are still a lot to learn but by this simple exercises, I have a vision of how video and sound production will be. We also learn how to use after effect to create visual effect for the final project.
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